After the Pope County Fairgrounds opened its doors Tuesday, visitors to the annual fair have another four days of different festivities and a slew of new activities to look forward to.

Greg Standridge, president of the Pope County Fair Association, said tonight will mark the first night of cattle and commercial exhibits, and musical acts are scheduled for Thursday through Saturday nights.

Some Guy Named Robb will play Thursday, as well as Eye Witness. Feedback will play Friday night, and local musician Luke Williams will play Saturday, the final night of the Pope County Fair.

Something unique about the performances this year is that they’ll be held on a brand new stage with seating, one of the fair board’s bigger projects in the last year.

“We just built that new stage. It’s a concrete stage with a metal roof on top,” Standridge said. “We’ve upgraded our facilities a little and put in some actual grandstands, so it’s not just all lawn chairs. You can bring your lawn chairs out there if you want, but we do have stands there too.”

The board also put funds toward an extension of the barn at the fairgrounds, adding about 1,200 square feet to the area where rabbits, chicken, geese and other animals can be found.

Standridge said the two projects, which cost around $50,000 to upgrade, were funded through proceeds the fair brings in.

Also new this year is the “Globe of Death” — a steel sphere in which motorcyclists will ride loops inside, free for view besides the $5 admission into the fair — and a mechanical bull.

The fair will continue its tradition of selling armbands which bring with them unlimited access to rides, rather than purchasing tickets.

The armbands will be on sale for $20 today and Thursday, and $25 on Friday and Saturday.

Fair pageant winners will be announced at 6 p.m. Friday, and the fair will host “Children’s Day” from 1-5 p.m. Saturday.

Standridge said new rides will be introduced, including two refurbished rides — one with tiny mini-bikes and another of boats — for children to ride.

“For the little kids, it’s awesome,” he said. “They’re slow, they don’t jerk them around and they’re not scared to ride those.

“This year I think we’ve got the largest amount of kiddie rides we’ve had in a long time.”

The rides are supplied by Pride Amusements.

Admission to the Pope County Fair is $5, or free for children 10 years of age and younger.